Upper Eyelid Ptosis

What is blepharoptosis?

Eyes are the key factor for the first impression to others. The so-called ‘tired & sleepy eyes’ is because of the weakness of levator palpabrae muscle. From medical perspective, when we look straightly forward, if the edge of the upper eye lid was 1-1.5mm lower than the superior rim of iris, it can be diagnosed as ptosis.

The etiology of upper eyelid ptosis is various. For example, the damage of the nerves which innervate the levator palpabrae muscle, the weakness of the levator palpabrae muscle, skin problems of upper eyelid, etc. Same patients present fake ptosis, which means the eyes looks sleepy but there is no ptosis exist. Therefore, doctor should carefully examine the eyes and diagnose the real etiology for the ptosis. Meanwhile, doctor should pay attention to the patients who pursue only the double eyelid surgery, if they have the ptosis problem simultaneously.

surgical technique

Simplely, the blepharoptosis is the surgical technique to make the eyes looks bigger and brighter. The movement of openning eyes need lots of structures to support, the levator palpabrae muscle is the most important structure.

The levator palpabrae muscle is a very tiny and thin muscle, it attaches to the tarsus. When this muscle contracts, the eyelid will be elevated. Therefore, blepharoptosis can strengthen the Levator palpabrae muscle and improve its function.

The surgical plan should be based on the degree of the ptosis and the previous function of the levator palpabrae muscle. The degree of the ptosis can be measured the vertical distance between the edges of superior and inferior eyelid. The function of the levator palpabrae muscle can be measured by the moving distance of superior eyelid when be asked to look upward.